Lumber-stacking machine.



Patented Oct. 2, I900.

Y ..FULI'.ERTON.Y LUMBER STACKING MACHINE. (Application flld Jam 6, 1889. Bexiawed Ely 4, 1900.)

3 Sheats-$hoet I.

(No Model.)

No. 658,770. Patented Oct. 2, I900.

' B. FULLERTON. 4

LUMBER STACKING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 6, 1899. Renewed Kay 4, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 SheatsSheet 2.

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' No. 658,770. Patented Oct. 2, 1900.

n. FULLERTON.

LUMBER STA'QKING MACHINE.

(Application filed; 7m 6, 1899. kenawofiimy 4, 1900.)

(Nu M01181.) 3 Shaets$heet 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT FULLERTON, DES MOINES, IOWA.

LUMBER-STACKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 658,770, dated October 2, 1900.

Application filed January 6, 1899. Renewed May 4, 1900. Serial No. 15,542. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, ROBERT FULLERTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa,have invented a new and useful Lumber- Stacking Machine, of which the following is a specification.

One object of this invention is to provide a machine for stacking sawed boards on edge in tiers with a space between each to pro-. vide means whereby the lumber may be dried and seasoned rapidly and to the best advantage. My object is, further, to provide a machine of this class of such simple, strong, and durable construction that it may be made com mercially practicable and be inexpensive enough to come into general use.

My object is, further, to provide a machine that will so stack the lumber that it may be readily handled and conveyed from place to place and the stacks remain intact.

A further object is to provide means Whereby the frame in which the lumber is stacked may be automatically moved a distance corresponding to the thickness of one tier of boards each time that a new tier is added thereto, and, further,to provide means whereby the weight of the tops of the tiers of boards is counterbalanced, so that the supportingframe of the board will not be bulged outwardly at its top.

My objectis, further, to provide simple, durable, and easily operated means whereby the supply of boards to the stacker may be temporarily stopped during the time that the tier of boards is being placed in position in the stack until the stacking-frame is returned to its normal position, whereupon the number of boards will have been accumulated and will be in position to immediately pass to the stacking-frame, so that the supply of sawed boards to the stacking-frame will not be delayed if the boards are received by the endless conveyer only at frequent intervals.

My invention consists in certain details in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the stacking mechanism proper, in the construction of the frame for holding the stack of boards, in the construction of the means for retaining the boards from passing to the stacking-frame, and in the arrange- 4 shows a vertical transverse sectional view through theline 4 4 of Fig.2; and Fig. 5 shows an enlarged'detail view in perspective with parts broken away to illustrate the construction of the stack-holding frame, the track in which the same is mounted, and the channelbars in which the spacing-strips are placed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I shall first describe specifically the means for carrying or conveying boards to the stacking mechanism and later the stacking mechanism itself.

The reference-numeral 10 is used to indicate a-frame, having a series of longitudinal top pieces 11 inclined downwardly toward the stacking mechanism. In the upper end of these longitudinal piecesll a shaft 12 is rotatably mounted, and on this shaft a sprocketwheel 13 is fixed in a position near the central portion of each of the said longitudinal pieces 11. At the lower end of the said longitudinal pieces a shaft 14is rotatably mounted,

and on this shaft 14 a series of sprockets 15 is fixed, said sprockets being made to aline with the sprockets 13. On one end of this shaft 14 is a belt-wheel 16 anda bevel gearwheel 17. A belt 18 is connected with the wheel 16 and to a suitable source of powerguide them to the conveyer-chains.

The reference-numeral 2l is used to indicate aseriesof arms, each being pivotally connected, by means of the pin 22, with the longitudinal pieces 11 near the lower ends thereof to be capable of moving in a vertical plane,

23 indicates a shaft mounted in bearings 24 beneath the longitudinal pieces 11 and having formed on or fixed thereto the eccentrics 25, and on the end of said shaftis a hand-lever26. In the practical use of t his part of the machine and assuming that boards were being conveyed by any suitable means from the saw and were deposited upon the top of the longitudinal pieces ll from the side opposite to the said side board it is obvious that they will be engaged by the said side board and made to rest upon the chains 19 on top of the said longitudinal pieces 11, and they will be conveyed thereby toward the lower ends of the longitudinal pieces to the stacking mechanism. However, should it be desired to temporarily stop the passage of boards from this conveyer it is only necessary to manipulate the lever 26 and cause the cams to engage and elevate the arms 21 This will obviously raise the boards above the conveyer-chains and hold them from passing to the stacker. It will also serve to permit the boards that are deposited upon the endless conveyer at considerable distances of separation to closely engage each other and lie edge to edge upon the top of the arms 21.

The stacker proper is composed of a frame 27, located adjacent to the frame 10 and having three sills 28, on each of which a series of rollers 27 are mounted between the side pieces 30 Near the central portion of the frame -17 and at the opposite side thereof two uprights 31 are fixed and are arranged to support a frame 32, and to the under surface of this frame three strips 33 are fixed in position in vertical alinement with the said sills 28. On the under surfaces of these strips 33 and at the end adjacent to the conveying device I have fixed the leaf-springs 34 to incline downwardly from the said strips and toward the central portion thereof. The function of these springs will be hereinafter made clear.

The reference-numeral 35 is used to indicate a cross-piece mounted on the top of the side pieces 30, and on this cross-piece 35 three channel-bars 36 are connected by means of the hinges 37 to swing in a vertical plane and to stand in a position directly over the space between the said side pieces. These three channel-bars are connected by means of the cross-pieces 38. Means are provided whereby the said channel-bars may be elevated to an approximately-vertical position as follows: The reference-numeral 39 is used to indicate a segmental rack pivoted to the channel-bar at its one end and extends downwardly and outwardly therefrom concentrically with the pivotal point of the said channel-bars. A similar rack is placed on each of the end channel-bars. 39 indicates rollers fixed to the frame to engage the under surface of the said rack to hold them in engagement with the pinions. 40 indicates a shaft rotatably mounted in suitable stationary bearings, and fixed to said shaft are two pinions 41, meshed with the said racks 39. Hence a rotation of the shaft 40 will either raise or lower the racks and the channel-bars with them. On one end of the shaft. 40 are two bevel gear-wheels 42, which are meshed with a bevel gear-wheel 43. This wheel 43 is fixed to the shaft 44, which has a bevel-gear 45 on its opposite end meshed with the gearwheel 17. By this means it is obvious that the said bevel gearwheels 42 are constantly rotated during the operation of the conveying mechanism.

The reference-numeral 46 is ufed to indicate a friction-clutch upon the shaft 40 and arranged when moved longitudinally thereupon to connect either one of the bevel-gears 42 with the shaft 40. A lever 47 is connected with this friction-clutch, whereby it may be operated, and it is obvious that when the said lever is moved to connect one of the bevelgears 42 with the shaft the said shaft will be rotated in one direction, while if the lever is moved in an opposite direction the shaft 40 will be rotated in a different direction. By this means it is obvious that by manipulation of the lever 47 the channel-bars may be made to move from their normal position to a substantially-vertical position and then return. On the lower end of each of the said channelbars 36 I have provided serrated edges 48 for purposes hereinafter made clear.

The frame in which the stack of lumber is held comprises a series of longitudinal basepicces 49, designed to rest upon the rollers 29, and at one end of these base-pieces the uprights 50 are fixed. These base-pieces 49 slide freely under the cross-piece 35.

51 indicates direction-pulleys fixed to the uprights 31, on the inner faces thereof, and 52 indicates a cross-piece to connect the upper ends of the uprights 50. Ropes 53 are attached to the opposite ends of this crosspiece 52, and the weights 54are fixed to the ends of the ropes, and said ropes are passed over the pulleys 51.

The practical operation of this stacking mechanism is as follows: Assuming that the stack-supporting frame were moved to its limit in one direction, so that the uprights 50 thereof were in a position adjacent to the ends of the channel-bars 36-that is, in readiness to receive the first tier of him berI place spacing-strips (indicated by the referencenumeral 54) in the channel-bars 36, and said spacing-strips are of a length to extend from the base-pieces 49 to the horizontal strips The boards from the conveyer are then permitted to pass to the top of said channel-bars, and they will obviously be forced toward the lower end of the channel-bars until stopped by the uprights 50. As soon as the tops of the channel-bars have been filled with boards tightly packed the lever 26 is operated to stop the supply of boards passing to the channelbars and the lever 47 is manipulated in such IIC a direction as to cause the pinions 41 to engage the racks 39 and elevate them. This obviously will standthe boards on edge with one side against the uprights 50 and the other side engaged by the said spacing-strips. The upper faces of the lower ends of these spacing-strips will drop in front of the cross-piece 35, thus preventing it from moving backwardly, and the upper ends of the spacingstrips will elevate the leaf-springs 34 and pass beyond them, whereupon they will drop downwardly and prevent the spacing-strips from moving backwardly. The channel-bars may then be returned to their position and a second tier of boards be permitted to pass upon the channel-bars, which have in the meanwhile been supplied with spacing-strips, as before. It is obvious that when each successive tier of boards is added to the supportingframe the said frame is moved upon the rollers 29 a distance corresponding to the thickness ofone tier of boards, and, furthermore, the upper ends of the uprights 50 will be prevented from bowing outwardly on account of the weight of the board by means of the said weights. The operation of adding new tiers of boards to the stack may be repeated until the base-pieces 49 are filled, whereupon the last set of spacing-strips are connected in some manner with the uprights 50 on the opposite side of the stack, and thus a packed stack that may be easily handled is provided. This is then removed and a new stack-supporting frame placed upon the rollers 29. The serrated edges 48 on the lower ends of the channel-bars 46 provide means whereby the lower board in a tier is forced downwardly to its limit when the channel-bars are elevated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States thereror, 1s

1. In a lumber-stacking machine, the combination of a frame having a number of longitudinal top pieces, shafts rotatably mounted in the frame at the ends of the said top pieces, sprockets on said shafts arranged in alinement with the said longitudinal top pieces, endless conveyer-ohains passed over the said sprocket-wheels to travel on top of the said top pieces and return beneath them, means for driving one of said shafts, a series of arms pivoted to the said longitudinal top pieces, a shaft mounted beneath the said top pieces adjacent to said arms, eccentrics on said shaft arranged to be capable of engaging said arms and forcing them upwardly above the conveyer-chains, and a lever attached to the said shaft, all arranged and combined to operate in the manner set forth and for the purposes stated.

2. A lumber-stacking machine, comprising in combination,a supporting-frame, a stacker-.

framev slidingly mounted therein, a series of channel-bars hinged to the frame to swing in a vertical plan e, means for raising and lowering the said channel-bars, spacing-strips designed to be placed in the channel-bars, and means for automatically engaging and holding the spacing-strips at their upper ends when the said channel-bars are returned, for the purposes stated.

a 3. A lumber-stacking machine, comprising in combination, a frame, sills on said frame, rollers in the said sills, and side pieces adjacent to the rollers, uprights fixed to the frame, horizontal strips connected with said uprights, leaf-springs fixed to the said strips, a cross-piece connect-ed with the said frame, channel-bars hinged to said cross-piece, spacing-strips designed to be placed in said channel-bars, segmental racks fixed in said channel-bars, a shaft rotatably mounted in a fixed support, pinions on said shaft to engage said racks, and means for operating the said shaft to raise and lower the rack, all arranged and combined substantially in the manner set forth and for the purposes stated.

4. A lumber-stacking machine, comprising in combination, a supporting-frame, longitudinal top pieces therefor, shaft-s mounted in the ends of said longitudinal pieces for rotation, sprockets on said shaft, endless eonveyer-chains passed over said sprockets and over the longitudinal pieces, means for driving one of said shafts, arms pivoted to the said longitudinal pieces, a shaft mounted beneath the said arms, eccentrics thereon to engage the arms, a lever fixed to the shaft, a second frame having grooved sills, rollers in said grooves, uprights fixed to the said frame, horizontal strips connected with said uprights, leaf-springs fixed to said strips, a crosspiece fixed to the sills, channel-bars hinged to said cross-piece and having serrated lower edges, segmental racks fixed to the said channel-bars, a shaft rotatably mounted in a stationary support, pinions thereon to engage the said racks, means for connecting the said shaft with one of the aforesaid shafts whereby it may be rotated in either direction to thereby raise and lower the said racks, spacingstrips designed to be placed in the said channel-bars, and a stacker-frame mounted upon the said rollers, uprights at the outer ends of the said lumber-stacking frame, directionpulleys fixed to said uprights, a rope connected with the uprights of the stacker-frame and passed over said pulleys, and weights on said ropes, all arranged and combined to operate in the manner set forth and for the purposes stated.

ROBERT FULLERTON.

Witnesses:

J. RALPH ORWIG, THOMAS G. ORWIG. 

